Guild News Blog

Illustrator Arthur’s Story: Why We Need the CASE Act

An illustrator discovered his Broadway production artwork was being used without his knowledge by small theaters nationwide....

27 June, 2019

Pepe the Frog Creator Settles with Alex Jones in Copyright Infringement

Artist Matt Furie has settled his copyright infringement lawsuit with Infowars founder Alex Jones for $15,000....

20 June, 2019

In a Blow to Creators, Takings Clause Lawsuit is Dismissed in Copyright Case

The First District Court of Appeals in Houston has ruled that a photographer is unable to sue under the Takings Clause....

18 June, 2019

Takings Clause Invoked to Address Copyright Infringement by State Agency

Photographer Jim Olive discovered an alternate way to demand payment for a copyright infringement: through the Takings Clause....

22 May, 2019

Court of Appeals Throws Out Faulty Fair Use Verdict

On April 26, 2019 the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court finding of fair use in Brammer versus Violent Hues Productions. ...

11 May, 2019

Celebrating Women Designers on World Design Day 2019

On April 27, ico-D challenged us to celebrate Women in Design for World Design Day 2019....

10 May, 2019

Take Action: What is The CASE Act, and How Can You Support It

We’re asking everyone who supports fairness in copyright to help us make a splash. Now is the time to contact your Representatives and ask them to support H.R. 3945, CASE Act. ...

08 May, 2019

IAF Panel: Authors Rights Issues from “Across the Pond”

The Guild participated in a panel discussion on authors’ rights and copyright issues conducted by the International Authors Forum (IAF) in New York City....

06 May, 2019

The Guild Welcomes the Introduction of The CASE Act into the House and Senate

The Graphic Artists Guild applauds the introduction of The Copyright Alternative in Small Claims Enforcement Act (CASE Act into the House of Representatives, and for the first time into the Senate....

01 May, 2019

Ico-D on Fiverr and the Gig Economy

ico-D published an article exposing Fiverr’s business model, explaining why the idea of partnership with the platform is so antithetical to ico-D’s core mission. ...

02 April, 2019

Karyn Temple Named Register of Copyrights

The Graphic Artists Guild welcomes the appointment of Karen Temple as the Register of Copyrights. ...

30 March, 2019

Social Media Rights Grab at The Vessel Represents a New Low

Hudson Yards created controversy by stating it has the right to use and license any photographs, text, video, or sound recordings “depicting or related to” a structure open to the public, The Vessel....

25 March, 2019

Supreme Court Rules That Registration Certificate Must Precede Infringement Lawsuit

The Supreme Court has held that a copyright registration only occurs after the Copyright Office approves the registration; only then can the copyright holder bring an infringement lawsuit. ...

16 March, 2019

Copyright Office Replaces Unpublished Collection Registration Option with Group Registration of Unpublished Works

Creators have until March 15, 2019 to register large collections of unregistered works....

11 March, 2019

SPGA Archives Accepted by the Tacoma Public Library

After the death of Society of Professional Graphic Artists (SPGA) unofficial historian, Dan Ballard, the Northwest Room of the Tacoma Public Library accepted his archives....

15 February, 2019

Realizing a Dream: The First Thirty Years of the Graphic Artists Guild

Twenty years ago, for the 30th anniversary of the Guild, member Dan Ballard pulled together a brief history of the early years. ...

10 February, 2019

Update on the CASE Act: How We Ended 2018 and Next Steps

Although The CASE Act expired in December with no bill signed into law, our advocacy efforts on behalf of the bill weren't in vain. We got the attention of lawmakers, and expect the Act to be reintroduced this year...

01 February, 2019

50 Years and Counting: Past and Current Leadership Meet to Celebrate

In early December, the Guild celebrated our 50th anniversary in a gala which brought together past and current leadership....

25 January, 2019

Copyright Office Submits Letter to Congress on Copyright Issues for Visual Artists

On January 18, the Copyright Office submitted a letter to the House and Senate Judiciary Committee Leaderships focusing on the concerns visual artists have with the copyright system. ...

25 January, 2019

Guild Responds to Copyright Office Inquiry on Modernization

The Graphic Artists Guild responded to the Copyright Office’s Notice of Inquiry (NOI) on Registration Modernization, with comments focused on the particular concerns of illustrators and designers....

16 January, 2019

Update on The CASE Act: Advocating for a Copyright Small Claims Process

The Guild joined representatives from \visual artist associations for Congressional visits in January and in April in support of The CASE Act. ...

30 April, 2018

A Year with the ADAA, Part 2: Mentoring an ADAA Winner

A few months after judging the ADAA winners, Theresa Whitehill was asked to mentor one of the student finalists, Martin Hoang. ...

19 April, 2018

15th Edition of the Graphic Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines Published

The latest edition was released in early April and features a greatly reworked chapter on Surface Pattern Design....

16 April, 2018

Take Action: Let Congress Know You Support Copyright Small Claims Reform

We’re asking everyone to contact your Representatives and ask them to support H.R. 3945, CASE Act. ...

03 April, 2018

KODAKOne Uses Blockchain Technology and Cryptocurrency to Manage Image Rights

\KODAKOne will utilize blockchain technology to permit photographers to register, manage, archive, and monetize their images seamlessly from a single platform. ...

15 March, 2018

There’s Work to Do on Copyright Small Claims

The CASE Act (H.R. 3945) is widely supported, but we need creators to help move it forward....

18 January, 2018

Good News! WordPress Will Be A Lot Easier To Use In 2018

WordPress will be rolling out the new content creator known as Gutenberg. ...

18 January, 2018

Space Exploration Posters, Courtesy of the Jet Propulsion Lab

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab gave us all a lovely holiday gift: a series of space exploration posters, free for downloading and printing. ...

28 December, 2017

Health Insurance Options, Now That the Federal Enrollment Period is Over

If you missed the enrollment period for the federal exchange, you may still have options to get coverage at HealthCare.gov. ...

19 December, 2017

The Guild Joins Visual Artists for a December Lobbying Visit

On December 4-5, the Guild joined our Coalition of Visual Artists for a trip to Capitol Hill to lobby on behalf of graphic artists in support of the CASE Act. ...

08 December, 2017

Guild Responds to Copyright Office Request on Group Registrations

The Graphic Artists Guild has submitted a response to a proposed rulemaking by the Copyright Office on Group Registrations of Unpublished Works. ...

01 December, 2017

What To Do If You Think Your Client’s WordPress Site’s Been Hacked

The frantic email, text, or call always comes at a bad time. Your client thinks their site's been hacked. What are you going to do?...

21 November, 2017

Montreal Design Declaration: “All People Deserve to Live in a Well-Designed World”

On October 24, representatives from 14 international associations challenged designers, educators, governments, and the private sector to work collaboratively....

14 November, 2017

From Design Certification to National Design Policies

ico-D’s annual Platform Meeting took place October 13 and 14 in Montréal, Canada this year, and Rebecca Blake represented the Guild....

30 October, 2017

Spreading Wings: from the Guild to the ico-D Board

The Graphic Artists Guild’s Advocacy Liaison Rebecca Blake was elected to the ico-D Executive Committee October 16th and will serve as International Treasurer....

24 October, 2017

A Meeting of (Like) Minds: Guild National Board Meeting in Atlanta

The Guild’s National Board returned to its tradition of holding an annual in-person meeting. ...

23 October, 2017

Call to Action: Ask Your Representative to Co-Sponsor Copyright Small Claims Legislation!

The Guild is calling on graphic artists contact their representatives and ask them to support the CASE Act, the Copyright Enforcement in Small Claims Act....

09 October, 2017

The Guild Supports the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act

The Graphic Artists Guild welcomes the introduction of HR 3945, the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act of 2017 or CASE Act. ...

05 October, 2017

The Guild Joins Photographers in Meeting with Rep. Hakeem Jeffries

Guild National President Lara Kisielewska and Advocacy Liaison Rebecca Blake joined representatives from ASMP, NPPA, and APA in meeting Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) September 15th. ...

19 September, 2017

A Year with the ADAA, Part 2: Mentoring an ADAA Finalist

Member Theresa Whitehill continued her experience as an ADAA judge by mentoring one of the student finalists. ...

30 August, 2017

Boston Comic Con & the Cartooning Industry: A Conversation with Mark Slater

New England Regional Representative Mark W. Slater took it upon himself to be the face of the Guild at Boston's Comic Con this year....

21 August, 2017

Graphic Artists Guild Signs on to Copyright Alliance Letter to NAFTA Negotiator Lighthizer

The Guild has signed on to a letter drafted by the Copyright Alliance requesting that NAFTA negotiations address the modernization of the copyright provisions of the agreement....

18 August, 2017

Photographer Impoverished by Copyright Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of Monkeys

In 2015 PETA sued Slater on behalf of one of a macaques, claiming that Slater violated the monkey’s copyright when the “monkey selfie” taken with Slater's camera was included in his self published book....

25 July, 2017

Guild Joins Coalition of Visual Artists for Congressional Visits

On July 20th, the Guild joined members of the Coalition of Visual Artists for productive meetings with Congressional staff on key copyright issues. ...

24 July, 2017

Illustrator and Member Cindy Salans Rosenheim Joins ADAA Judging Panel

Guild member Cindy Salans Rosenheim was asked to join the judging panel for the prestigious Adobe Design Achievements Awards....

14 July, 2017

ICON 10 Education Symposium Call for Abstracts on “Teaching in the Future”

ICON 10, The Illustration Conference, has put out a call for papers to be considered for their Education Symposium taking place next July in Detroit, MI. ...

30 June, 2017

Metro-NY Artists: Pro-Bono Legal Assistance for Copyright Disputes

The Copyright Alliance has partnered to provide pro-bono trial services for individuals and small businesses involved in copyright disputes in New York City. ...

27 June, 2017

A Year with the ADAA, Part 1: Judging the Adobe Design Achievement Awards

Theresa Whitehill of Colored Horse Studio reflects on her experience as a judge of the Adobe Design Achievement Awards....

24 June, 2017

Creating Unity Through Color Editing

Proper color editing of webpage images is a step most web designers overlook, to their detriment....

22 June, 2017

“First Expressed in Nature”: Science Illustrator Pieter Folkens Raises Copyright Concerns

Science illustrator Pieter Folkens is a renowned marine mammal artist and the creator of created animatronics used in films such as “Free Willy”....

24 May, 2017

NEA Granted a Reprieve; Arts Advocates Gear Up for the Longer Fight

Arts advocates were appalled when the budget proposed by the Trump transition team called for eliminating the National Endowment for the Arts, along with steep cuts to other cultural and social programs. ...

12 May, 2017

The Guild Supports S.1010, “The Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act”

The Graphic Artists Guild applauds the introduction of “The Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act” into the Senate as S.1010....

05 May, 2017

Comic Artist Turned Away at US Border for Carrying Work in Progress

On April 20th, Canadian Marvel comic book artist Gisele Lagace was denied entry to the United States when attempting to cross the border to attend Chicago’s C2E2 comic convention. ...

24 April, 2017

Contact your Representative and ask them to vote YES on H.R. 1695

We’re calling upon visual artists and those who support a vibrant creative community to contact their representatives and ask them to support H.R. 1695. ...

21 April, 2017

Copyright Office Modernization: Through an Artist’s Lens

To help facilitate the marketplace for creative works, visual artists have long called for modernizing the US Copyright Office....

21 April, 2017

Urban Outfitters Loses Appeal of Copyright Infringement Case, to the Tune of $530,000

Urban Outfitters lost its appeal of a district court jury decision that found the company guilty of willful infringement, and has been ordered to pay $530,000....

07 April, 2017

Fake Flash Player Targets Apple Users and WP Engine Clients

Currently, a fake Flash Player scam is targeting visitors and users of the popular WordPress hosting platform WP Engine by taking advantage a common typo of the company URL. ...

05 April, 2017

The Guild Applauds the Introduction of the “Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act”

The Graphic Artists Guild applauds the introduction of H.R. 1695, the “Register of Copyright Selection and Accountability Act of 2017,” on March 23. ...

27 March, 2017

Doubleday Solicits Free Labor on Bestselling Author’s Book Cover

Doubleday’s current book cover contest has hit the usual nerves in the design and illustration communities. ...

21 March, 2017

Adobe Design Achievement Awards Student Competition is Open

The annual Adobe Design Achievement Awards global student competition is again open. ...

15 March, 2017

International Women’s Day Yields Treasure Troves of Work by Women

International Women’s Day was marked by a number of blogs and websites with comprehensive reviews of work by women visual artists....

13 March, 2017

New Copyright Office Website: Responsive in More Ways than One

On March 1st, the Copyright Office launched its new website – a huge improvement over the previous iteration....

06 March, 2017

Logobook: Inspiration in Black and White

A new compendium of logos has been published online: Logobook. Each logo is presented only in solid black and white, permitting viewers to focus on the design and to easily compare logos....

28 February, 2017

Copyrightlaws.com Sheds Light on Moral Rights in the United States

In light of the Copyright Office’s Notice of Inquiry (NOI) on Moral Rights, Copyrightlaws.com has done us all a favor in posting their article, “Moral Rights in US Copyright Law.”...

16 February, 2017

Elevating “Real” News Through Web Typography

During the Poynter Digital Design Challenge, Jeffrey Zeldman went after what he described as low-hanging fruit: the website typography....

06 February, 2017

Eliminating the NEA: FastCompany Outlines What a Bad Idea This Is

In its article, “Defunding the NEA Would Be Incredibly Stupid: Here’s Why,” FastCompany pulls no punches in contesting the wisdom of that move....

03 February, 2017

The Guild Signs on to Comment Letter on Group Registration of Photographs

In conjunction with the Coalition of Visual Artists, the Graphic Artists Guild has signed on to a comment letter in response to a Notice on “Group Registration of Photographs.”...

31 January, 2017

Response Submitted to Copyright Office Reform Policy Proposal

The Guild joined the Coalition of Visual Artists in submitting a response to the policy proposal for reform of the Copyright Office drafted by House Judiciary leadership....

31 January, 2017

“Women Who Draw” Directory Showcases Diversity in Women Illustrators

“Women Who Draw” simply features work by women artists, filterable by ethnicity, sexual orientation, location, and faith. ...

19 January, 2017

Photography Associations Need Input on Group Registrations

Our photography associations are requesting input from professional photographers on their workflow and how they register their copyrights....

11 January, 2017

Was Your Copyright Infringed Online? Copyright Alliance Survey Needs your Input

The Copyright Office has sent out a request for additional information from stakeholders on DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) safe harbor provisions. ...

04 January, 2017

We Need Your Voice on the next Register of Copyrights

We’re asking all visual artists, and all who rely on a strong copyright system, to respond to the Library of Congress’ survey on the next Register of Copyrights. ...

30 December, 2016

Fairness for Small Creators Act Introduced

The Guild applauds the introduction of H.R. 6496, the “Fairness for Small Creators Act” introduced by Rep. Judy Chu [D-NY] and Rep. Lamar Smith [R-TX]. ...

08 December, 2016

First Policy Proposal from Judiciary Committee Hearings Released

The Graphic Artists Guild welcomes the first policy proposal resulting from the Judicary Committee’s review of U.S. copyright law, released by House Judiciary Committee Chair Bob Goodlatte and Ranking Member John Conyers....

08 December, 2016

DesignCensus: Respond to AIGA’s Comprehensive Survey of the Design Sector by December 16

Google and AIGA have collaborated on Design Census, a survey to map the educational level, lifestyle, and work habits of designers around the world....

30 November, 2016

Free Art Licensing Q&A with J’net Smith, December 14

J’net Smith of All Art Licensing is running her free Q&A on art licensing on December 14th. ...

29 November, 2016

Judge Dismisses Photographer’s $1 Billion Case Against Getty Images

After the judge presiding in the case indicated that he was considering dismissing a number of photographer Highsmith’s claims, the parties settled. ...

25 November, 2016

Update on Freelance Isn’t Free: NYC Mayor Signs Bill into Law

The law is the first of its kind in the nation, providing legal recourse for freelancers to pursue clients for non-payment. ...

18 November, 2016

Illustrator and Lawyer Collaborate on Law & Artist Videos to Inform Graphic Artists

In a bi-coastal collaboration that benefits artists, illustrator Mark Monlux and attorney Daniel Abraham have been producing Law & Artist videos....

08 November, 2016

Relief for NYC Visual Artists: Freelance Isn’t Free Act Passes Unanimously

The bill redresses the growing trend of non- or late payment experienced by 71% of New York City freelancers....

31 October, 2016

Two New Guild Member Discounts: Art Licensing Services & Products, and Brush Calligraphy Workshop

We have two new member discounts to announce! To retrieve your discount codes, log in to Member Central (upper right corner of our website), and visit our Member Discounts page....

28 October, 2016

Statement on Removal of Registrar of Copyrights by Copyright Alliance

The Copyright Alliance released a statement that echoes our concerns with the removal of Maria Pallante as Register of Copyrights....

24 October, 2016

Ask a Pro Webinar and Resources for Illustration and Design Students Published

Links and resources shared during our Ask a Pro webinar have been gathered into a resource list, along with links to additional resources....

21 October, 2016

Resources for Illustration and Design students from The Guild’s Ask A Pro Webinar

We've gathered the links and resources shared during our Ask a Pro webinar into a resource list....

20 October, 2016

Illustrator Cory Kerr Makes the Case for Using a Contract

Illustrator Cory Kerr covers “Contracts and the Apocalypse” for illustrators who are new to the business side of illustration....

11 October, 2016

$1 Billion Lawsuit Against Getty Images Raises Questions about Public Domain Dedication

Photographer Carol Highsmith was outraged when she received a $120 invoice for using a photograph she had taken....

29 September, 2016

The Power of the © Notice

In her follow-up article, “Your © is More Than CMI,” Burns goes into greater detail on how to effectively use the copyright notice, and why doing so is such a good practice....

15 September, 2016

Workgroups Present to the International Design Community at ico-D Platform Meetings

The Guild particpated in ico-D’s Platform Meetings by heading a session on National Design Policy....

09 September, 2016

National Design Policies: Why They Matter

A national design policy is a systemic and strategic government plan to support its design sector to achieve various ends. ...

06 September, 2016

AIGA’s “Get Out the Vote” Poster Campaign 2016 Resonates

AIGAs "Get Out the Vote" poster campaign solicits designs from AIGA members for posters urging citizens to vote. ...

29 August, 2016

An Open Letter to Political Candidates on Copyright

The Copyright Alliance has published an open letter to the 2016 political candidates, advocating for a strong copyright system and a safe and secure Internet. ...

03 August, 2016

Coalition of Visual Artists Welcomes Introduction of Establishing Small Claims Board for Copyright

A coalition of visual artist groups commends the attention that a copyright small claims legislation is now garnering on Capitol Hill. ...

14 July, 2016

Guild Advocacy Liaison Testifies at Copyright Office Discussion on the DMCA Notice

The Guild participated in panel discussions conducted by the Copyright Office on the DMCA takedown process....

11 July, 2016

Meet Yanique DaCosta, Southern Region’s Candidate for Representative!

We’re delighted to announce another candidate for regional representative, designer and fine artist Yanique DaCosta. ...

30 June, 2016

© Watermark: A Tool to Protect Your Work Under the DMCA

Attorney Leslie Burns explains how including your name and copyright symbol gives you an additional, powerful tool to protect your copyrights online....

29 June, 2016

HOW Design Live: A Fun Pricing Game, and a Memorable Conference

The Guild was invited to participate at HOW Design Live this past May, and decided to contribute a live version of our Pricing Game. ...

07 June, 2016

Introducing Joseph Caserto, Eastern Region’s New Representative

The Guild’s Eastern Region is delighted to announce their new representative to National: designer Joseph Caserto....

24 May, 2016

World Design Summit – Montréal 2017: Call for Speakers

The organizers of the World Design Summit – Montréal 2017 aim to address how design can shape the future. ...

20 May, 2016

Compare and Contrast: Artists’ Rights and the Two Princes

Sarah Howes of The Copyright Alliance compared Prince the musician to his opposite, appropriation artist Richard Prince (RP)....

18 May, 2016

Vox Indie’s Common Sense Proposal for Google to Reduce its Massive DMCA Takedown Numbers

Ellen Siedler of Vox Indie asserts that the sheer quantity of notices processed Google is proof enough that the process does not help rights holders. ...

12 May, 2016